Tag: Baptism

One of the great confessions produced the Reformation era is the Belgic Confession of Faith, authored by Guido de Bres in 1559, a few years before his martyrdom in 1567. The entire section on baptism is excellent, but here is part of it: By [baptism] we are received into God’s church and set apart from…

From the Synod of Dordt, Canon I, Article 17, Concerning the Salvation of Infants Dying in Infancy: Since we must make judgments about God’s will from his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents are…

Parents who believed Jesus was the Messiah brought their little ones to Jesus to be blessed by him (Matthew 19, Luke 18). The disciples objected (this is the closest anyone in the NT gets to being Baptist.) Jesus override their objections: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to…

[These are Sunday School notes from a class taught during Epiphany, 2004.] Introductory Note: January 6 is Epiphany in the traditional church calendar. Though Epiphany is often treated as a single day, with the Sundays following counted as “Sundays after Epiphany,” we will treat Epiphany as an extended season. “Epiphany” means “revelation” or “manifestation.” Following…

Baptism should not be repeated any more than circumcision.— Jesus is the Word. He’s the Preacher. He’s also the Baptizer. — “….so shall he sprinkle many nations….”  – Isaiah 52:15 “…..make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…..”  – Matthew 28:19 It’s pretty easy to figure out the proper mode of baptism if we read the…

BAPTISMAL EFFICACY AND THE REFORMED TRADITION: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE By Rich Lusk OUR REFORMED HERITAGE When a Reformed Christian hears “baptismal regeneration,” what comes to mind?  “Heresy,” most likely.  Unfortunately, many in the Reformed community today have lost touch with some important aspects of their own heritage.  If Reformed theology is going to continue…

This lengthy but insightful quotation on the historic meaning of “baptismal regeneration” and the problem with modern “refinements” is taken from Richard Whately’s 1857 tract on Baptism: “In the baptismal Service,” says the late Mr Simeon, “we thank God for having regenerated the baptized infant by his Holy Spirit. Now from hence it appears that, in the opinion…

Baptism personalizes the gospel. Baptism puts your name into the promises of the gospel. Baptism turns, “for God so loved the world…” into “for God so loved Rich…” Baptism makes the gospel yours. Baptism makes God *your* God. Baptism makes the church *your* family. The call to “remember your baptism” is precisely the call to…

If you visit my church (Trinity Presbyterian CREC in Birmingham), one of the first things you’ll notice when you come into our sanctuary is that the baptismal font is at the entrance. Here’s an explanation: The placement of the baptismal font at the entry point of the sanctuary is not accidental. It serves an important…